Delta flies in to become international partner of the Masters

Golf - 11 Oct 2017

Author: Jonathan Rest

Delta Airlines, the USA-based international carrier, has signed up as a sponsor of golf’s iconic US Masters in a multi-year deal, beginning in 2018.

Delta becomes an international partner of the tournament played at Augusta National Golf Club, joining UPS, the international logistics company, and Rolex, the Swiss watch manufacturer, in that category.

AT&T, the US telecoms firm, IBM, the information technology giant, and Mercedes-Benz, the German carmaker, remain global sponsors of the event.

Billy Payne, the outgoing chairman of Augusta National and the Masters Tournament, said: “The business relationships we cultivate assist in our efforts to meet the unique and high expectations of quality established by our Founders many decades ago. Delta Air Lines is a welcome addition to our family of partners, and I know their enthusiasm for the tournament – not to mention their own standards of excellence – will greatly enhance the Masters.”

The 2018 Masters is scheduled for 5 to 8 April.

Delta is the first addition to the Masters’ sponsorship portfolio since 2014, when UPS came on board to replace Mercedes as an international partner, afterthe latter became a global sponsor in succession to ExxonMobil, the international oil and gas giant, which did not renew its deal.

Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia, the Masters champion, has parted company with TaylorMade, the US golf equipment brand, after 15 years.

The split, which was described as mutual, follows Adidas’ recent $425-million sale of the business to investment firm KPS Capital Partners.

The 37-year-old Spaniard will continue to endorse Adidas.

It has yet to be confirmed which clubs Garcia will be using in future although he has been linked with US company Callaway.